Breeding-crate.



No. 854,113. PATENTED MAY 21, 1907.

L0. SHEPARD.

BREEDING CRATE APPLICATION rum) 001.22, 1906. V

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wibwssie 'plete breeding crate.

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PATENT OFFICE.

LEROY O. SHEPARD, OF IRWIN, IOWA.

BREEDING-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

Application'filed October 22, 1906. Serial No. 340,092.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEROY C. SHEPARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Irwin, in the county of Shelby and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Breeding-Crate, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a breeding crate of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, which is especially designed for use in breeding hogs, but may, by variations in size, be adapted for other ani mals.

A further object is to provide improved means by which sows of different sizes may be firmly held in proper position with relation to the platform upon which the boar stands, and may be moved up or down as desired.

A further object is to provide a platform for a boar, which platform is capable of up and down movement to support the boar in any position of elevation which may be most desirable.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a plan view of the com- Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the same with the adjacent slatted side removed to show the interior con- Fig. 3 shows a detail view of the slide belt for adjustably connecting the pivoted arms with the frame, and Fig. 4 shows a detail perspective view of the rear belt and its supporting devices.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral to indicate the base of the crate upon which is a floor 11. The frame 12 is erected on'the base and slatted sides 13 and a slatted end 14: are fixed to said frame. The rear end of the frame is open, and, adjacent to the rear uprights are the uprights 15 parallel with the rear uprights and spaced apart slightly from them. Mounted in the space between these uprights at each side is a sliding block 16, the lower ends of said blocks being fixed to a platform 17 which is supported in position by braces 18 so that the platform moves up and down with the blocks 16. Mounted in the upper end of the uprights 15 is a crank shaft 19 having a crank arm 20 on one end and a ratchet wheel 21 adjacent thereto. A pawl 22 is provided to engage said ratchet wheel. Fixed to and wound upon the shaft 19 are two ropes 23, with their lower ends attached to the sliding blocks 16. By this arrangement it is obvious that this platform may be readily, quickly and easily raised or lowered 'and supported in any position throughout its path of travel.

A short distance in front of the platform 17 is a shaft 24 rotatably mounted in the top of the frame and provided with a crank 25 and a ratchet wheel 26. A pawl 27 is also provided to engage said ratchet wheel. Fixed to and wound upon this shaft 24 are two ropes 28. Their lower ends are extended downwardly and connected to a wide belt 29 designed to be passed around a sows body. Fixed to this belt 29 is a number of straps 30 which are designed to be passed around a sows rear legs when the belt is passed around the animals body.

Some distance in advance of the belt 29 is a similar belt 31 designed to be passed around .a sows body and provided with straps 32 to pass around the animals front legs. This belt is supported by two ropes 33 which are fixed to and wound upon a shaft 341. This shaft is supported by means of two arms 35 pivoted to the base of the frame and extended upwardly to a point above the base, the said shaft having its bearings in the ends of said arms. This shaft is provided with a crank 36 and a ratchet wheel 37. engage said ratchet wheel. I have provided means for adjustably supporting the arms 38 to thereby increase or diminish the distance between the two belts as follows: Fixed to the sides of the frame near its top are two segmental racks 39, and mounted on the arms 35 adjacent thereto are the slide bolts 40 designed to engage said rack. These slide bolts are clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. I/Vhen the arms are in the position shown by solid lines in Fig. 2, the belts are relatively close together, or if said arms are swung forwardly as shown by dotted lines in said figure, the belts will, of course, be further spaced apart. In this way the device is adapted for animals of different lengths as it is desir able that the belts be passed around the animals body immediately in front of its hind A pawl 38 is provided to legs and in the rear of its front legs. These belts provide means for retaining and supporting an animal within the crate.

I11 front of the forward belt is an adjustable partition 40 fitted into the notches 41 formed by the blocks 42 at the top and bottom portions of the frame. This partition may be adjusted longitudinally of the frame by raising it out of said notches and then lowering it at the desired point in the notches.

In practical use, the sow is first driven into the crate and the crate is adjusted to the length of the animal by moving the par tition 40 so that the rear end of the animal will be at the proper distance from the platform 17. Then the rear belt is fastened to the animal as before described, and the crank 25 turned until the supporting ropes of the belt are stretched tight and the animal firmly held. Then the forward belt is adjusted to position, and during such adjustment the arms 35 may be tilted forwardly or rearwardly as required to bring the belt immediately in the rear of the animals front legs. Then the crank 36 is manipulated to tighten the forward belt, whereupon the animal is firmly and immovably held and is prevented from lying down. Then the boar is permitted to stand upon the rear platform 17, and if when attempting to serve the sow, it is found that the animals are not in the proper position of elevation with relation to each other, the platform 17 may be raised or lowered to suit the requirements, or the sow may be raised or lowered, by raising or lowering the belts which support her.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, therefor is 1. A breeding crate, comprising a frame, an animal retaining and supporting belt therein and a vertically adjustable platform at the rear of the frame.

2. In a breeding crate, the combination of a frame, an animal retaining and supporting belt therein, a partition at the forward end of the frame adjustable longitudinally of the frame, and a vertically adjustable platform at the rear of the frame.

3. In a breeding crate, the combination of a frame, two animal retaining belts therein, means for suspending said belts, and means for moving one of them toward or from the other.

' 4. In a breeding crate, the combination of a frame, t'wo animal retaining belts therein, means for suspending said belts, means for moving one of them toward or from the other, and an adjustable platform adjacent to the rear belt.

5. In a breeding crate, the combination of a frame, a rear animal supporting belt, means for raising and lowering said belt and for supporting it in different positions of elevation, a forward animal supporting belt, means for raising and lowering it and supporting it in different positions of elevation, and means for moving the forward belt forwardly and rearwardly within the frame and for securing it in different positions.

6. Ina breeding crate, the combination of a frame, a rear animal supporting belt, means for raising and lowering said belt and for supporting it in different positions of elevation, a forward animal supporting belt, means for raising and lowering it and supporting it in different positions of elevation, means for moving the forward belt forwardly and rearwardly within the frame and for securing it in different positions, and an adjustable platform at the rear of the frame.

7. In a breeding crate, the combination of a frame, sides connected therewith, a partition adjustably mounted in the forward portion of the frame and capable of movement longitudinally of the frame, arms secured to the base of the frame and extended upwardly, a rope winding and supporting device carried by said arms, ropes connected therewith, an animal supporting belt supported by said ropes, means for securing the upper ends of said arms in different positions of adjustment longitudinally of the frame, a rear animal supporting belt, ropes connected therewith, a rope winding and supporting device connected with said ropes, a vertically movable platform in the rear of the rear belt, a rope winding and supporting device above it, and ropes connected therewith and with the rear platform.

LEROY C. SHEPARD. Witnesses:

JASPER GRoAT, HARRY MoMULLEN. 

